FAMU football RB Thad Franklin, more named HBCU preseason All-Americans

Five Florida A&M football players were named to the BOXTOROW preseason HBCU All-American team.Running back Thad Franklin Jr., offensive linemen Charles Davis and Ashton Grable, edge rusher Davion Westmoreland, and cornerback TJ Huggins were selected.Linebacker Nay’Ron Jenkins received an honorable mention.FAMU’s season begins August 30th against Howard in the Orange Blossom Classic.

The preseason accolades continue to roll in for Florida A&M football.

On Tuesday, Aug. 5, five Rattlers were named to BOXTOROW’s preseason HBCU All-American team, with one honorable mention, ahead of 2025’s kickoff. FAMU had the most selections behind the defending Black College Football National Champions, Jackson State.

FAMU graduate student running back Thad Franklin Jr. led the offense on the All-American team alongside offensive linemen Charles Davis and Ashton Grable.

Defensively, edge rusher Davion Westmoreland and cornerback TJ Huggins represent the Rattlers.

FAMU linebacker Nay’Ron Jenkins was an honorable mention on the HBCU All-American list.

All six Rattlers were All-Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason selections. Grable and Huggins also made the 20-player nomination list for Stats Perform’s 2025 HBCU National Player of the Year.

FAMU football is in its second week of preseason training camp, culminating in a closed scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 9.

The Rattlers’ 12-game regular season schedule begins on Aug. 30’s Orange Blossom Classic versus the Howard Bison at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium.

BOXTOROW’s 2025 HBCU Preseason All-America team

OFFENSE

QB: Jacobian Morgan, Jackson State, Gr., Canton, Miss.RB: Thad Franklin, Jr., Florida A&M, Gr., West Palm Beach, Fla.#RB: Kevon King, Norfolk State, Sr., Chesapeake, Va.RB: Jacorian Sewell, Alcorn State, Gr. Natchez, Miss.#OL: Charles Davis, Florida A&M, r-Sr., Marianna, Fla.#OL: Ashton Grable, Florida A&M, r-Jr., Gordon, Ga.OL: Trevon Humphrey, North Carolina Central r-Jr. Greensboro, N.C.*OL: Noah McKinney, North Carolina Central, Sr., Duncan, S.C.#OL: Korion Sharpe, North Carolina A&T, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.#OL: D’Andre Townes-Blue, Jackson State Sr. Willow Grove, Pa.*TE: Marvin Landy, Jackson State, Gr., Lakeland, Fla.WR: Brevin Caldwell, Johnson C. Smith, Sr., Charlotte, N.C.WR: Nathan Rembert, Jackson State, Jr., Eustis, Fla.

DEFENSE

DL: Bryce Cage, Grambling State, r-Sr., Baton Rouge, La.DL: Ckelby Givens, Southern, Sr., Shreveport, La.*DL: Davion Westmoreland, Florida A&M, Gr., Griffin, Ga.DL: Jeremiah Williams, Jackson State, r-Sr., Lexington, Miss.LB: Stemarion Edwards, Alcorn State, Gr., Hollandale, Miss.LB: Erick Hunter, Morgan State, Sr. Capitol Heights, Md.LB: Max U’Ren, North Carolina Central, r-Sr., Winston-Salem, N.C.DB: Camani Cobbs, Tennessee State, r-Soph., McDonough, Ga.#DB: William Davis, Virginia Union, Jr. South Boston, Va.#DB: TJ Huggins, Florida A&M , r-Sr., Miami, Fla.DB: Michael King Jr. Tuskegee Sr. Tuskegee, Ala.#DB: Keane Lewis Alabama State Sr. Miami, Fla.#DB: Malcolm Reed, North Carolina Central, Sr., Raleigh, N.C.DB: Jarod Washington, South Carolina State r-Sr. Fredericksburg, Va.*

SPECIALISTS

P: Gerardo Baeza, Jackson State, Gr., Boaz, Ala.PK: Johnny Schifano, Grambling State, Gr., Arlington, TexasPR: Travis Terrell Jackson State Soph. Atlanta, Ga.*KR: Travis Terrell Jackson State Soph. Atlanta, Ga.*

HONORABLE MENTION

TE: Luke Bracey, North Carolina CentralOL: Tim Artis, Jr., Howard; Desmond Daniels, Alabama StateWR: Joanes Fortilien, Jackson StateDL: Ishaun Abdul-Ali, Howard; Cameron Davis, Virginia State; Xavier Esquillen, Savannah State; Dashawn Fields, Morgan State; Nay’Ron Jenkins Florida A&M; Daylan Long, Norfolk State; KJ McNeil Virginia State; Noah Miles, Howard; Israel Nwokocha, BenedictLB: Vincent Paige, SouthernDB: ; Jadon Carter, Morgan State; Horacio, Johnson Southern; Antwone Watts, Bethune-CookmanP: Mark Shenouda, Tennessee StateKR: Jaxon Williams, BenedictPR: Malique Leatherbury, Morgan State

*Tie

#2024 HBCU All-American

Florida A&M Football 2025 Schedule

Week 1: Saturday, Aug. 30 ― vs. Howard (Orange Blossom Classic at Miami Gardens’ Hard Rock Stadium), 4 p.m., ESPNUWeek 2: Saturday, Sept. 6 ― at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m., ESPN PlusWeek 3: Saturday, Sept. 13 ― vs. Albany State, 7 p.m., SWAC TVWeek 4: BYE/OPEN WEEKWeek 5: Saturday, Sept. 27 ― vs. Alabama State (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GOWeek 6: Saturday, Oct. 4 ― vs. Mississippi Valley State (SWAC/at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium), 4 p.m., SWAC TVWeek 7: Saturday, Oct. 11 ― vs. North Carolina Central, 3 p.m., HBCU GOWeek 8: Saturday, Oct. 18 ― vs. Alcorn State (SWAC/Homecoming), 4 p.m., ESPN PlusWeek 9: Saturday, Oct. 25 ― at Southern (SWAC), 5 p.m., SWAC TVWeek 10: Saturday, Nov. 1 ― vs. Jackson State (SWAC), 7 p.m., ESPN NetworkWeek 11: Saturday, Nov. 8 ― at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (SWAC), 3 p.m., HBCU GOWeek 12: Saturday, Nov. 15 ― at Alabama A&M (SWAC), 3 p.m., SWAC TVWeek 13: Saturday, Nov. 22 ― vs. Bethune-Cookman (SWAC/Florida Classic at Orlando’s Camping World Stadium)Saturday, Nov. 29 ― NCAA FCS Playoffs Begin (If Necessary)Saturday, Dec. 6 ― SWAC Championship Game (If Necessary)Saturday, Dec. 13 ― Celebration Bowl at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium (If Necessary)Monday, Jan. 5, 2026 ― NCAA FCS National Championship Game at Nashville’s FirstBank Stadium (If Necessary)

All times listed are in Eastern Standard Time.

Gerald Thomas, III is a multi-time award-winning journalist for his coverage of the Florida A&M Rattlers at the Tallahassee Democrat.

Follow his award-winning coverage on RattlerNews.com and contact him via email at GDThomas@Tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee.